Combined clothesline stretcher and elevator



Patented July 22, 1952 COMBINED CLOTHESLINE STRETCHER AND ELEVATOR Thomas F. Goodwin, Muldrow, Okla.

Application April 14, 1950, Serial No. 155,949

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to a combined clothesline stretcher and elevator.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a deviceof the above-mentioned character which will completely eliminate the necessity for the well known forked pole or clothesline prop which is difficult to secure in place, and which requires constant adjustment, the prop also interfering with the hanging of the clothes on the line.

A further object is to provide a combined clothesline stretcher and elevator which is highly simplified in construction, sturdy and durable, inexpensive to manufacture'and very easy to manipulate.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device for raising and lowering a long, substantially horizontal clothesline which is suspended between two upright posts without necessitating the use of any intermediate prop or pole.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a combined clothesline stretcher and elevator embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view of my combined device with the clothesline in the raised or elevated position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an elevating bell crank lever removed.

In the drawings, where, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals I and II designate upstanding, substantially vertical, fixed posts or poles which may be anchored in the ground and spaced a substantial distance apart. Freely pivotally mounted upon the top ends of the posts I0 and I I by means of transverse, horizontal pins or bolts I2, or the like, are a pair of vertically swingable, generally L-shaped bell crank levers l3 and I. These bell crank levers may be arranged close to the adjacent sides of the vertical posts I0 and II, as shown, and the bell crank levers I3 and I4 include elongated, curved, handle extensions or arms I5, and relatively short, straight extensions or arms I6 integral therewith. Small hooks I! are freely pivotally connected with the handle extensions I near and inwardly of their outer or free ends, and the free ends of the relatively short arms or extensions I6 carry line-attachingeyes I8 integrally secured thereto. An elongated, substantially horizontal clothesline l9 has its opposite ends permanently secured to the eyes I8, as shown. I prefer to make the arms I6 approximately eight inches long, although this length may be varied. Itis also desirable that the distance from the groundgtoithebottom ends of the arms I6, Figure 1, be app'roximately'four feet, although this distance may be varied as desired.

In use, the housewife merely disconnects the hooks I! from the clothesline I9 and swings the bell crank levers I3 and I4 to their positions illustrated in Figure 1. When this has been done, the relatively short arms I6 will be disposed generally vertically and depending from the pivot bolts I2. Accordingly, the horizontal clothesline I9 will be spaced below the top ends of the posts II and l2 2. distance substantially equal to the length of the arms I6. When the line is in this lowered position, it is very easy for the housewife to hang the clothes upon it. It will be unnecessary to stand on any chair, box or like object, and there is no clothesline prop or separate forked pole to remove and adjust. After the lowered clothesline I9 is filled with clothes, the bell crank levers I3 and I4 are swung in the direction of the arrows in Figure 1 until the arms I6 are upwardly directed and extending substantially vertically above the tops of the posts I0 and l I. With the bell crank levers in these positions, the clothesline will be tensioned and the hooks H are engaged over the clothesline for releasably locking the handle extensions or arms I5 thereto, Figure 2. The clothesline I9 and the bell crank levers l3 and I4 are now releasably held in substantially their positions illustrated in Figure 2. The clothesline has now been elevated from its original lowered position of Figure 1 to a distance equal to twice the length of one of the arms I6 above the lowered position of the clothesline. If the arms I6 are approximately eight inches long, the clothesline may be raised and lowered approximately sixteen inches by swinging the bell crank levers to and from their positions shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It is thus seen that I have provided a combined device for properly tensioning the clothesline as well as raising and lowering it to a substantial distance while maintaining the line substantially horizontal at all times. The use of my combined device completely eliminates the well known troublesome clothesline prop or forked pole.

Although I have shown the bell crank levers 3 l3 and I4 pivotally mounted upon corresponding vertical sides of the upstanding vertical posts I6 and H, I do not wish to limit the invention to this precise arrangement. If desired, the bell crank levers l3 and 14 may be pivotally mounted upon the ends of fixed horizontal members or posts, and their operation for raising and lowering and tensiom'ng the clothesline will be exactly the same. Also, if desired, the post-s10 and?!) may be constructed with top horizontal cross members so that the posts are substantially T- shaped. The bell crank levers I3 and I l may then be pivotally mounted upon corresponding.

ends of the top horizontal cross members, and

the bell crank levers will be vertically swingable trated in the drawings.

It is to be understood that the former the invention herewith shown and described is to be- 4 the bell crank levers including relatively long first arms adapted to extend transversely of the posts beyond opposite sides thereof, the bell crank levers including relatively short second arms arranged substantially at right angles to the first arms and adapted to extend longitudinally of the upright posts in upstanding and depending positions, attaching eyes secured to the free ends of the relatively 'short second arms, a substantially horizontal clothesline ektending between the posts and having its ends secured to the eyes, and hooks carried by the first arms near their free ends for engagement with the clothesline when the first arms of the bell crank levers are extended trans- 15 and operate in exactly the same manner illus-- A versely inwardly of the posts and the second arms are upwardly directed.

1 THOMAS F. GOODWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number ,Name Date 110,802 Talbott Jan. 3, 1871 1 410,283 Jinkins Sept. 3, 1889 812,690 Singer Feb. 13, 1906 1,737,195 Meredith Nov. 26, 1929 2,280,526 Johnson Apr. 21, 1942 

